David and Goliaths

Sir,

Your article in the November issue covering the 1914 Sunbeam cars was most interesting.

In your first paragraph you refer to the Peugeot of 7.6 litres winning against the monster 14 litre FIAT. I would have thought that 7.6 litres was enough to be termed a monster in itself. However, it is certainly remarkable that a car with half the engine size could oust the “big boys”.

Something even more remarkable is the Type 13 Bugatti of 1327 c.c. coming in second to a to. litre FIAT in 1911!

I also recall that in the 1920s a Mr. Frank Lockhart designed the Stutz “Black Hawk”, a 3 litre straight-tight capable in tests of approximately zoo m.p.h. It was to compete for the Land Speed Record against a Triplex, using I believe no less than three Liberty Aero Engines, somewhere around 70 litres!

I wonder how many other David and Goliaths there are, for the subject is quite fascinating.

London, NW3 P. HOPKINS